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oxfordcommas91's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book was unfortunately a bit of a letdown for me, and maybe that’s due to the fact that it’s hyped pretty aggressively on booktok and other social platforms.
This was a fine book but it is definitely what I’d consider a romance focus with a light dusting of fantasy/magic elements. The fantasy elements are not explored or explained in any sort of depth. Though this is YA, it doesn’t compare to series like Shadow & Bone that gives you a vivid fantasy world with a true magic system. The focus is nearly wholly on the two main characters - both young journalists living in the capital or a fictional country at war. While war rages through their lands, it has not yet come to the capital and many believe it won’t. Their lives and interactions are the focus of this book, with a side quest/plot of the magical war that is apparently tearing society apart at the seams.
My issues with this book is that there are so many things that are really skipped over in service of the romance and to great detriment to the rest of the plot. While I commend the author for her creative way of introducing information (and doing it slowly) via letters, there simply is not enough to understand why the war is raging and what the rest of society is up to (we get a limited handful of side characters, most of which don’t drive the plot forward much).
There are more than a few plot holes - and it’s frustrating to get intrigued by a topic being introduced only to jump immediately to something else happening.
I will give props where deserved - I think the author does a nice job of conveying the brutality of war to a YA audience and setting up a compelling concept - who wouldn’t be intrigued by the concept of a world where the gods were at war and humans were being recruited to fight on their behalf?
I’m intrigued enough by the last ¼ of the book and the cliffhanger ending (which I’m mad about for other reasons but we don’t have time to get into that) that I will likely pick up the second book and hope that Ross treats us to a more developed fantasy world where her characters can truly shine.
This was a fine book but it is definitely what I’d consider a romance focus with a light dusting of fantasy/magic elements. The fantasy elements are not explored or explained in any sort of depth. Though this is YA, it doesn’t compare to series like Shadow & Bone that gives you a vivid fantasy world with a true magic system. The focus is nearly wholly on the two main characters - both young journalists living in the capital or a fictional country at war. While war rages through their lands, it has not yet come to the capital and many believe it won’t. Their lives and interactions are the focus of this book, with a side quest/plot of the magical war that is apparently tearing society apart at the seams.
My issues with this book is that there are so many things that are really skipped over in service of the romance and to great detriment to the rest of the plot. While I commend the author for her creative way of introducing information (and doing it slowly) via letters, there simply is not enough to understand why the war is raging and what the rest of society is up to (we get a limited handful of side characters, most of which don’t drive the plot forward much).
There are more than a few plot holes - and it’s frustrating to get intrigued by a topic being introduced only to jump immediately to something else happening.
I will give props where deserved - I think the author does a nice job of conveying the brutality of war to a YA audience and setting up a compelling concept - who wouldn’t be intrigued by the concept of a world where the gods were at war and humans were being recruited to fight on their behalf?
I’m intrigued enough by the last ¼ of the book and the cliffhanger ending (which I’m mad about for other reasons but we don’t have time to get into that) that I will likely pick up the second book and hope that Ross treats us to a more developed fantasy world where her characters can truly shine.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Bullying and Sexism
taranottahra's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Had a lot of potential but the world building was very very loose and it was hard to get engrossed in the story when I really was only given enough of a framework for the how’s and why’s and…the why’s still don’t make a lot of sense. The title is entirely misleading, as the main characters are set up as “rivals” for about .25 seconds through a work competition and quickly move into becoming fond of each other. It’s a play on words that also refers to another set of rivals in the book…however, that relationship is loosely covered and not a real focus (in this book). The book had vibes and potential but very weak and empty world building, with a lacking plot, and a thin somewhat forced romance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Grief, Death of parent, and War
Moderate: Violence and Classism
isabelle8794's review against another edition
challenging
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Gore, and Sexual content
Minor: Child death, Cursing, and Death of parent
spazzcats's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content
ladybug12793's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
pretty writing
Decent read with good plot and pretty writing. Some grammatical errors, though. Hated the ending. Made no logical sense. IYKYKForrest had PLENTY of time to save Kitt. It probably would’ve actually been quicker to do so because Iris kept stopping.
0-0.25 🌶️ closed door
Decent read with good plot and pretty writing. Some grammatical errors, though. Hated the ending. Made no logical sense. IYKYK
0-0.25 🌶️ closed door
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Violence, Medical content, and Death of parent
Minor: Child death
emerentina's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Death of parent, and War
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Gore, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, and Death of parent
Minor: Emotional abuse and Kidnapping
victoriascotta's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and War
Moderate: Death of parent
mrsalexisrjones's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A girl writes letters to her long lost brother in war.. except they aren’t going to him.. they’re going to her rival at the newspaper company. With war, news, enemies to lovers, found family, the sorrows of war, and a hope for a better tomorrow, divine rivals is a great read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Death, Violence, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Child death, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Blood, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
casey_bloom's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
A captivating story that can easily be read in one setting. Ross has a poetic lyrical prose writing style that was magical to read.
Aesthetic and Tropes:
Aesthetic and Tropes:
- Dual POVs
- War - in the trenches
- Gods at war & magic
- Letters/pen pals
- Workplace rivals -> lovers
- He falls first
- Found family
The letters were my favourite part of the story as they were intimate and raw and showed how two people can form a connection through vulnerability, sharing their feelings of loss and grief with one another.
I adored the found family aspect of this story, the array of characters that we meet on Iris and Roman’s journey was special and I loved the bond they all formed.
My only negative is that I would have liked a bit more of an in depth explanation of the world building and magic system as I found it lacked depth at times.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Grief, Death of parent, and War
kennedyasdfghjkl's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I knew there was a lot of hype around this book, which can make it a little daunting to pick up at first. But once I fully dove into Iris and Roman's world, I was in love. Their journey became more complex and immersive as it went, and took me to levels I did not expect! Even though I had an inkling where their love story would go, I never imagined the depth and connection I would feel to it. From banter to beautiful confessions, I was squealing constantly. The world building and magical system is so fascinating, and I can't wait to learn more in the next book. The way gods and magic interact with the universe is subtle, yet clearly embedded. Totally something I'd never seen before, and absolutely loved.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and War
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, and Death of parent